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INTRODUCTION. 
\_Prior Discoveries. 
Flinders, chalk. On breaking these chalky trunks, which was easily done, 
1798, rings of the brown wood sometimes appeared in them, as if imper- 
fectly converted ; but in the greater number, nothing more than 
circular traces remained. The situation in which these trees were 
principally found, is a sandy valley near the middle of the island, 
which was likewise remarkable for the quantity of bones of birds 
and small quadrupeds, with which it was strewed. The petrefactions 
were afterwards more particularly examined by Mr. Bass, who 
adopted the opinion that they had been caused by water. 
Upon Cape-Barren Island the hills rise to a considerable height, 
that of the peak, which does not much exceed some others, being 
near twelve hundred feet; but on the smaller islands there is no 
elevation of importance. The upper parts of all are generally 
crowned with huge lumps of granite ; and upon many of these, 
particularly on Rum Island, is a smaller, unconnected, round lump, 
which rests in a hollow at the top, as a cup in its saucer ; and I 
observed with a glass, that there was a stone of this kind at the 
summit of the peak of Cape Barren. The lower parts of the islands 
are commonly sandy; and, in several places under the hills, swamps 
and pools are formed. The water in these is generally tinged red ; 
and in one, situate between Passage and Cone Points, it had so much 
the appearance of blood, that I went to taste it ; but, except being a 
little brackish, found nothing remarkable. Whether the water 
become thus tinged, in its course down the hills, by earthy or 
metallic substances, or acquire its colour from the roots and leaves 
of vegetables, I am unable to decide ; but think the former most 
probable. 
All the islands are over-run with brush wood ; amongst which, in 
the more sheltered and less barren parts, are mixed a few stunted 
trees, which seem to shed their bark annually, and to be of the 
heavy kind called gum tree at Port Jackson. The brush wood 
overspreads even the rocks where it can get the least hold ; it is 
commonly impenetrable, and on the south and west sides of the 
